Ward lay me down and moved on top of me.

  I had to stop this but I couldn’t. Every kiss became more intense, and within seconds clothes started to come off. I clung to him tighter, needing to feel him and not let him get away. His tongue danced with mine and his powerful body pinned me to the bed. Then, unsure how we got there, we were making love.

  Ward’s face was pressed to mine. “I love you, darling.” He rocked into me slowly and purposefully.

  My mouth betrayed me and said the words I tried to forget. “I love you too.”

  “You will be mine—one way or another.”

  Lost in him, I pulled him tighter and we moved together, not thinking about how impossible our relationship was. We just moved and wished time would stop.

  ***

  When I woke up the next morning, I realized the idiotic mistake I made. Ward was sleeping beside me, and reality flooded my mind. I let my emotions get to me, and I gave into my weakness.

  “You’re so stupid, Clementine,” I whispered to myself. I got out of bed and changed before he had the chance to wake up. I’d find somewhere else to go until he left for work.

  I pulled my jacket on when he stirred.

  “Where are you running off to?” he asked with a tired voice.

  “Out,” I said dismissively. “You should leave too.”

  He sat up, his wide chest calling me back to him. “Back to square one, huh?”

  I grabbed his jeans and chucked them back at him. “Leave me alone. I mean it.”

  He caught them and smirked in an annoying way. “Dinner tonight?”

  “We’re done, Ward. There will be no dinner—ever.”

  “So, we’re back to casually seeing each other?”

  “We aren’t anything!” I threw his shirt at him. “Go and don’t come back.”

  “I’ll come by after work.”

  “Well, I won’t be here.”

  “Then I’ll find you,” he said simply. He got out of bed and dressed himself.

  “Why won’t you just go away?”

  “Because you don’t want me to,” he said with a cocky look.

  “I’ve never called you or reached out to you.”

  “Because you’re stubborn as a mule.”

  In an unstoppable rage, I ran at him then slapped him as hard as I could.

  He took the hit then grabbed me. He pressed his mouth against mine in an aggressive way then flipped me on the bed.

  “Get off me!” I tried to kick him off.

  He kicked his jeans off while he held me down.

  “I said get off!” I tried to hit him, even bite. “Now!”

  He moved my underwear over then moved inside me.

  As soon as I felt him the fight left me.

  Ward rocked into me slowly and pressed his face to mine.

  I would be forever stuck in this reality, loving a man who wouldn’t give me what I wanted. Why did I have to love the guys that were no good for me? Why couldn’t I just find a nice guy? There had to be some single ones left. The weight of my despair fell on me, and tears burned in my eyes. After I released a sniff, they fell.

  Ward stopped when he realized I was crying. He looked at me with concern in his eyes and stopped moving. “Clementine…”

  I turned my head so I wouldn’t have to look at him.

  He pulled out of me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t…I didn’t mean to hurt you.” His arm wrapped around me and he held me close.

  “You’re killing me. If you love me, just let me go…”I sniffed again then wiped my tears away. “I want to find the right guy. You aren’t him. Don’t make me settle for what I don’t want. Don’t take advantage of me just to get what you want. That’s not love…at least to me.”

  He was absolutely still, just staring at me.

  When I had the courage to look at him, I saw the tears in his eyes. He looked devastated.

  He sat up then stared at the wall. After a moment of silence, he got dressed. Then he stood there for a long time, not looking at me. “I’m sorry. I won’t bother you again.” Emotion was in his voice. He cleared his throat then walked out.

  I stayed on the bed, feeling my wet tears slide down my cheeks.

  Chapter Ten

  Slade

  Living with Trinity was the most awesome thing on the planet. She was there every day when I came home, and she was there every night when I went to sleep. I didn’t have to stop by my apartment and shower anymore. Her home was my home.

  The longer I lived with her, the less scared of marriage I became. If this was how my life would be until I died, there was no room to complain. The woman who agreed to spend her life with me was cock-hardening gorgeous, she was awesome, and she loved me for who I was, all the good and the bad.

  I was the luckiest bastard on the planet.

  When I came home from work, she was there. She had a few pins in her mouth and she was working on a dress in the middle of the living room. It didn’t seem like she even noticed me.

  “Baby, I’m home.” I tossed my wallet and keys on the counter like I did every afternoon.

  She mumbled something through the pins in her mouth. She didn’t look at me. Instead, she pinned a portion of the dress, marking something I couldn’t see.

  “Is that how you greet your fiancé?” I demanded.

  She held up her finger, telling me to wait a moment.

  I crossed my arms over my chest and tapped my foot against the floor impatiently.

  When she put all the pins in the fabric she turned to me. “All done.”

  “Hooray,” I said sarcastically. “Now give me some sugar.”

  “You remind me of a child sometimes.” She wrapped her arms around my neck and gave me a kiss.

  “Because I’m so cute and full of life?”

  “No.”

  “Because I’m adorable?”

  “No,” she repeated. “Because you throw a tantrum when I don’t pay attention to you.”

  “You see that diamond on your finger?” I held up her left hand.

  She scowled at me.

  “You’re legally and morally obligated to pay attention to me. When I come home, I want you to throw yourself at me and tell me how much you missed me.”

  “I do that every day.”

  “Uh, not today,” I corrected.

  “I just needed a second.”

  “No, you drop everything you’re doing when I come home.”

  She gave me an incredulous look. “You’re joking, right?”

  “No,” I said seriously. “That’s what married couples do.”

  “Do they wipe each other’s asses too?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. Do they?”

  She rolled her eyes. “You know nothing of marriage.”

  “But I’m excited to find out with you.”

  Her eyes softened slightly but the irritation was still on the surface.

  “But when I come home, I want you to greet me. You know, like the way Lucy greets Ricky from I Love Lucy.

  “I’m not a housewife from the fifties.”

  “Well, that’s what I want.”

  She put her hands on her hips and regarded me coldly. “What makes you think you can make these demands?”

  I wasn’t following her. “I’m confused. You said relationships are about asking for what you want and your partner will give it to you. Like, if I want sex all I have to do is ask. If I want you to kiss me, I just ask. If I want you to greet me with a smile and a kiss, I just ask. Isn’t that how it works? And then you ask for things and I do them for you? Because it makes you happy?”

  She crossed her arms over her chest and relaxed. “Well, in a way. It’s a little different than that…”

  We’d been together for years but I was still new to relationships. I didn’t know anything about being a husband so I’d have to learn that too. “Well, what do I do? I’ll do something for you if you do that for me. Is that how it works? I’ll rub your back or make you dinner. Whatever you want, I’ll do it.”

  She eyed me for a long time. “It’s really that important to you?”

  “I think about you all day. When I clock out, I practically run here. I’m so excited to see you. When I walk through the door, I want to hold you. I don’t want to be ignored. I never ignore you.”

  “I wasn’t ignoring you,” she said. “I was just in the middle of something.”

  “Well, nothing is more important than you and I drop everything when you step through the door. I don’t understand why that’s not reciprocated.”

  “Well, I’ll do that from now on. I didn’t realize how much it meant to you.” She gave me a soft look.

  “Ever since I was little, my dad always came home from work first. He would sit on the couch and watch TV but he would eye the door every few minutes, waiting for Mom to come home. Then he would check his phone, sigh, and then put it back in his pocket. When she did walk through the door, he would ignore the TV even if a huge game was on just to kiss her and hug her. Like always, he would ask her how her day was even though she always gave the same answer. He acted like he hadn’t seen her in years even though it’d only been a few hours. At the time I thought it was stupid and annoying but now that I love someone…I get it. You probably think it’s stupid but…I want that with you.”

  Her face stretched into an emotional smile, and her eyes gave away the affection she had for me. In just a look, I knew she’d fallen more in love with me. I couldn’t explain it. I just knew. “That’s so sweet…”

  I shrugged, feeling self-conscious.

  She wrapped her arms around me then held me close. “I’ll always greet you when you come home—from now on.”

  I smiled. “Thanks. Is there something I can do for you?”

  “Actually, yes.” She gave me a playful look then pulled me toward the bedroom.

  I grabbed her ass as we walked inside. “I know exactly what my baby likes.”

  ***

  After I showered, I walked to the living room with a towel around my waist. “Arsen is coming over for the game. He’ll probably bring Silke.”

  Trinity stilled as she painted her nails. “Tonight?”

  “Yeah.”

  “When?” she demanded.

  “In half an hour or so.”

  She sighed. “Thanks for the heads up. I don’t even have time to get ready.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “You always look pretty. Calm down.”

  “It’s just common decency to tell me this sort of thing—not half an hour before.”

  “What’s the big deal?” I asked. “Did you have plans?”

  “No. But that’s not the point.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”

  “Don’t you whatever me!” She stood up and gave me the stink-eye.

  “What?” I asked. “You want me to tell them not to come?”

  “No! I’m just telling you to give me more warning next time.”

  “You’re making a big deal out of nothing,” I argued.

  Her eyes widened to the size of orbs. “Excuse me?”

  “Just chill out.”

  She grabbed the bottle of nail polish and chucked it at me. “You’re being a dick right now.”

  I dodged the little bottle. “Fine, I’ll tell you next time. Geez, Mom.”

  I knew I crossed a line when steam came out of her ears.

  “Oh shit…”

  She chased after me in a dead run.

  I sprinted to the bedroom and tried to shut the door before she could get me.

  She pushed it open, mustering strength from thin air, and then jumped on me. “Jackass!” She slapped me around, hitting my head and face as she barreled on top of me.

  I covered my head and protected myself as much as I could. Her hits were quick but they didn’t hurt. “I’m sorry, okay?”

  “Did your mom hit you like this?”

  “No,” I said as I kept my hands up. “She hit a lot harder.”

  She tried to pull my arms down so she could get a good hit to my face.

  I rolled her to the carpet then moved on top of her. I pinned her arms and legs down. We both breathed hard as we caught our breath. “Okay…let’s talk about this.”

  She tried to knee me in the groin.

  I dodged it. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you…you need those for your babies.”

  “You think I still want to have babies with you?” she hissed.

  “Yes,” I said honestly. “Now stop hitting me.”

  “You’re being a jackass!”

  “I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to piss you off.”

  “It seemed like it.”

  “I’ll let you know when people are coming over from now on.”

  She shook her head slightly. “You act like a Neanderthal sometimes. You’re totally oblivious to social rules and behaviors.”

  “I know,” I said honestly. “I admit that. I don’t do it on purpose. I’ve never lived with anyone before. And you’ve had people over too.”

  “I’ve always told you about them—ahead of time.”

  “Look, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

  “Don’t ever call me Mom again,” she hissed.

  “I promise.”

  The anger dimmed in her eyes.

  “Are we okay?” I continued to hold her arms back.

  “I guess,” she said with a sigh.

  “If I let you go, are you going to keep smacking me?”

  “Not sure…”

  I kept her pinned down.

  There was a knock on the door. “Everything okay in there?” It was Silke.

  Trinity rolled her eyes. “Geez, the apartment isn’t even clean…I didn’t cook anything.”

  “They aren’t going to care, Trinity.”

  “You know nothing of social behaviors, remember?”

  “Slade?” Silke knocked again.

  “I have to let you go now,” I said. “Don’t smack me.”

  She kept giving me the stink eye.

  “Alright?” I pressed.

  She sighed. “Fine.”

  Slowly, I released her.

  She didn’t fight me. She sat up then stepped away.

  I was naked so I pulled on the first clothes I saw.

  She pointed her finger into my chest. “Don’t let it happen again.”

  “I won’t.” I pulled her close than gave her a kiss. “Thank you for being patient with me.”

  Her anger seemed to evaporate at those words. She gave me a light smile then traveled to the entryway to answer the door.

  I fixed my hair then joined them in the living room.

  “What’s up?” Arsen greeted me with a handshake.

  “Just excited for the game.”

  He gave me a look of concern. “We heard yelling…everything okay?”

  “Yeah.” I brushed it off. “Trinity and I fight all the time.”

  “It sounded like a battle field,” Silke said. “I was waiting for the gunshots.”

  “We keep the bullets out of the barrel,” Trinity said seriously.

  Arsen and Silke both gave her a terrified look.

  “Kidding,” Trinity said with a laugh.

  They both relaxed.

  “Trinity doesn’t need a gun,” I said. “Her nails are sharp enough to rip me in half.”

  “Damn right,” she said.

  Arsen held up a pack of beer. “No Bud Light.”

  “Thank god,” I said. “That shit tastes like cardboard.” I put the beer in the fridge then we gathered on the couch. Trinity ordered a pizza then sat beside me.

  Silke snuggled close to Arsen, practically sitting on his lap. His arm was around her but she clearly wanted more affection than that.

  “Keep it PG,” I said while watching the TV.

  Silke moved into Arsen’s lap. “My man is more comfortable than a couch.”

  “Leave them alone,” Trinity said. “They’re cute together.”

  “We’re cuter,” I said. “But I’m not asking for a lap dance.”

  “If I offered to give you one, you wouldn’t turn it down,” Trinity said.

  “Well, obviously,” I said. “Never turn down a free lap dance. That’s the first rule I’ll teach our kids.”

  Trinity sighed. “They’re going to be pigs just like you, aren’t they?”

  “Definitely,” I said.

  Silke nodded toward Trinity and told her to meet her in the kitchen. They walked away, leaving Arsen and I alone.

  “Gossiping,” I said to Arsen. “It’s what they do best.”

  “Yeah…I have a feeling I know what they’re gossiping about.”

  “Do I want to know?”

  He shook his head quickly. “No.”

  I dropped the subject and watched the game.

  “Ooh…” Trinity squealed. “That sounds hot.”

  I tried to block out their conversation.

  “Is he as big as he is everywhere else?” Trinity asked.

  Arsen blushed but didn’t say anything.

  “News flash,” I said to them. “We can hear you.”

  Silke stuck her tongue out at me then turned back to Trinity. When they spoke, their voices were lower.

  Thank god.

  “Can I ask you something?” Arsen asked.

  “What?” I drank my beer.

  “How would you feel if I asked Silke to marry me?”

  I turned to him with wide eyes. “Are you going to ask?”

  “I’m thinking about it.” He said it casually, like it wasn’t a big deal.

  “That’s pretty soon…”

  He sighed. “That’s what I feared. Thanks for answering my question.”

  “I mean, do what you want,” I said quickly. “No one’s opinion matters but your own.”

  “Yeah?” he asked.

  “Yeah. And Dad loves you. I doubt he wouldn’t be thrilled.”

  “I just don’t want to scare Silke off by moving too quickly.”

  “Well, judging the way she’s gossiping about you right now I doubt she’d say no.”

  “Yeah…” Arsen watched her for a moment before he turned back to the TV. “Keep that to yourself, alright?”

  “Yeah. Trinity has a big mouth. It’s nice when she’s giving head but not when she’s keeping secrets.”

  He chuckled. “Thanks, man.”

 

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